Automobile-locking means.



G. M. ANDERSON.

AUTOMOBILE LOCKING MEANS.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27.1916. 1356,1236 Patented Dec.18,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEY G. M. ANDERSON.

AUTOMOBILE LOCKING MEANS,

APPLICATiON FILED OCT. 21. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi'messas INVENTOR Patented Dec. 18, 1917;

cation.

; ran sirs ra'rnr OFFICE.

Q'USTAF M. ANDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILELOCKING MEANS.

This invention relates to locking means for automobiles, and more particularly to means for shutting off the supply of fuel from the fuel tank to the engine or for locle ing the steering post, p effectually preventing unauthorized persons using the automobile.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a locking means of the character stated of simple construction and operation whichcan be easily applied to any automobile of stan d construction. A further object is to rovide a slidably mounted valve interposed in the fuel supply pipe having means attached to the same for moving the valve axially. Another object is to provide actuating means for the locking device which is so arranged as to be subjected to tension only, connecting cords or cables being relieved of all torque. A still further object is to provide a combination controlling lock so constructed that only persons familiar with the combination of this lock can operate the locking devices. Further objects will appear from the detail de-' scription.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of an automobile with the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the controlling lock casing and the members associated therewith Fig. 3 is a front view of the same; v

Fig. 4- is a longitudinally vertical sectional view through the controlling lock and operating means showing the relative positions of the various elements of the same in operative position;

Fig. 5 is the same in inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the lock for the steering post;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the fuel supply pipcgvalve casing broken away to Show the interior construction;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18. 1917.

Application filed October 27, 1916. Serial No. 128,099.-

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on line 99 ofFig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a section taken'on of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 4.

The fuel pipe 1 communicates with the usual tank mounted in any suitable position on the automobile body 2.. The forline 10 10 ward end of this supply pipe communicates with anipple 3 extending at right angles to the cylindrical valve casing 4. A second nipple 5 is provided below nipple 3 and dia- 3 metrically opposite thereto. This nipple 5 is connected to a feed pipe 6 which is connected to the carbureter in the usual manher. The valve casing 4 is provided with a longitudinally extending central bore the lower portion of which is enlarged as at 4* to form a valve chamber. A cylindrical valve 7 is mounted in this valve chamber and is provided, on its lower end, with an enlarged disk head 8. An inner annular shoulder 9 is provided at the upper end of valve chamber 4 contiguous to an upwardly tapering valve seat 10. A coil spring 11 is mounted about the body of valve 7 and is confined between the head 8 of the valve and the shoulder '9. This spring acts to normally hold the valve downward off of the valve seat 10. The stem 12 of the valve extends upward and is slidable in the central bore of the valve casing, and this bore is slightly enlarged at its intermediate portion, as at 12, so that, when the valve 7 is in lowered position the fuel will flow freely through nipple 3 into the valve chamber 4 and'thence through nipple 5 to the feed pipe 6 and the carbureter connected thereto. The downward movement of valve 7; is positively limited by a screw plug 13 threaded into the lower end of valve chamber 4*. The

upper end. of valve 7 is of frusto-conical shape as at 7, so as to fit snugly into the valve seat 10 and eifect a fluid tight closure therewith thus preventing flow of fuelfrom fuel pipe 1 to feed pipe 6.

An armored tubing 14 is secured at one end in the upper end of valve casing 4 and n cate w h the central bore thereof. The other end of this tubing is provided with a tlumble having an outer annular flange 16. This thimble fits into the outer end of a cylindrical sleeve 17. The outer end cylindrical cover 58. This cover has its edge of this sleeve is externally threaded to receive an internally threaded securing nut 18 provided with an inner annularflange 19. This flange is adapted to fit snugly about the body of thimble 15 above the shoulder 16 so as to secure the thimble tightlyyvithin the sleeve. A split ring packin 20 is mounted in an annular groove in thimble 15 below shoulder 16 and engages into an annular groove in the inner face oi'.sleeve 17. This packing prevents loosencss or play between the sleeve and thimble. An inner sleeve 21 is slidably mounted in sleeve 17 so as to be movable longitudinally of the same.

This sleeve is internally threaded to receive a screw.22 provided with the integral hexagonal head 23. The sleeve 21 is provided with a radially projecting lug 24 which extends through a slot 25 through one side of sleeve 17. This lug. fits snugly within the slot and serves to positively prevent rotation The outer end of sleeve of inner sleeve 21. p 21 1s frusto-conical shape so as to fit snugly into the inwardly tapering seat 26 formed in the inner end of thimble 15. Sleeve 17 is so rovided ad'acent its inner end with an in ner annular shoulder 17*. This shoulder and the seat 26 of thimble 15 act to positively limit the movement of inner sleeve 21 in either direction. I

A cable 27 has one end secured to the outer end of the inner sleeve and the other end secured to the upper end of valve stem 12. This cable is mounted within the armored tubing 14 so as to be protected thereby.

The inner end-of sleeve 1? is enlarged to form a usual cylindrical chamber 47. The

- peripheral wall of this chamber is exteriorly threaded and is adapted to be secured into the inner end of the cylindrical lock casing 48 which is provided with an integral base flange 49 by means of which the casing is secured to the dash A of the automobile. The hexagonal nut 23 at the inner end of screw 22 projects inward beyond the chamber 47 a short distance into the interior of lock casing 48. A. ring 50 is rotatably mounted within casing 48 and is provided with a central hexagonal opening 51 which snugly receives nut 23. This ring is provided on its outer face with a plurality of teeth 52 which are directed about the ring toward the left or anti-clockwise. A. disk 53 is mounted in the lock casing 48 adjacent ring50. This disk is provided on its inner face with a plurality of teeth 54 which. are directed oppositely to the teeth 52 of ring 50 and is adapted to engage therewith so as to rotate the ri when the dish. is turned to r ght or cinch se. The disk 58 is prov? with J. which.

turned downward as at 59, and inward as at 60, to fit about and under a peripheral bead 61 formed at the outer end of casing 48. By this means the cover and disk 56 are rotatably mounted on the casing, and theperiphery of the cover is milled to provide a good gripping surface. The outer surface 01' top of cover 58 is graduated and is provided with a plurality of perforations 62. A thumb nut 63 is secured on spindle 55 adjacent the cover and is provided with a radially extending indicator 64.

Disk 56 is provided on its inner face with a plurality of radially extending teeth 65. These teeth are directed. toward the right or clockwise and are adapted to be engaged. by a lug or tooth 66 formed on the outer face of disk 53 so that, when cover 58 is rotated to the right disk 53 will be simultaneously rotated therewith.

A coil spring 67 is mounted in a bore provided in the center of the hexagonal head 23 of screw 22. This spring is confined between the inner face of disk 53 and the inner end of this bore, and acts to normally force disk outward. A coil spring 68 is mounted about the hexagonal head of the screw in the cylindrical chamber 47 and is confined between the inner end ofthis cham her and the inner face of the ring 50. This spring acts to normally force ring 50 outward into close engagement with disk 53. With the ring. and disk mounted in the manner described, if the cover 58, or the disk 58, is rotated toward the right or clockwise this rotation will be imparted to the ring 50 and by ring 50 to screw 22 by means of the hexagonal head 23. By turning the screw to the right the sleeve 21 which, as above noted, is secured against rotation, will be drawn outward in the sleeve 17. ward movement of the inner sleeve 21 will exert tension on the cable 27 which will act to lift valve 7 against the action of coil spring 11. By this means the valve may be lifted and secured firmly in closed position thus shutting off the supply of-fuel to the carbureter feed pipe 6 and rendering it im- Un the other hand, if the cover 58 or disk 53 is turned to possible to start the engine.

the left or anti-clockwise the ring 50 will. not be rotated. This is due to the fact that the teeth of disks 56 and 53 a s directed toof the disks and ring permit sufficient inward give of these members to insure that rush 53 can rotate .antl-cloclrwise independently oi.

the ring 50. For this reason. when the valve .5

This outdisk 53 and cover 58 so as to permit the screw 22 to be rotated to the left so as to force the sleeve 21 inward in sleeve 17.

In order to permit the valve 7 to be released I provide special means for positively 10 connecting the cover and ring 50, this means being controlled by a combination locking mechanism. For this purpose I provide the disk 56 with an aperture 56 in alinement with one of the perforations 62 of the cover 58. I also provide the disk 53 with a similar aperture 53 which is the same distance from the center of the disk as aperture 56 is from the center of disk 56. The ring 50 is also provided with an aperture 50 the distance of this aperture from the center of the ring corresponding tothe radial distance of the apertures 53 and 56. It will be apparent that by rotating the cover 58, disk 53, and ring 50, so as to bring the apertures '25 53 and 56 into alinement these members may be positively connected by inserting a key 69 through the same. In order to bring the apertures in proper alinement, the cylindrical casing 48 is first opened and the disks moved so as to aline the apertures, the posi tion of the indicator Gel on the graduated face of the cover being noted. After this has been done the lock is secured in position on the dash 50, by means of'any suitable device which will prevent removal of the same. Thereafter, by rotating the thumb knob 63 so as to bring the indicator to the proper position on the dial of the cover and inserting the key 69 through the proper perforation 62 the valve 7 may be re leased by turning cover 58 to the left OI anti-clockwise. To make this operation clear reference will be made more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings. Let it be assumed that in originally assembling the locking mechanism the disk 53 and cover 58 are moved into such position that the apertures thereof are in alinement with each other and with the aperture of ring when 50 the indicator 64 is over the central perforation of the three triangular-1y arranged perforations between the numbers 12 and 1. In this position if the key. 69 is inserted through the uppermost perforation 62 of the cover it will pass through the alined apertures of the disks and 56 and the ring 50. If the key be withdrawn, and the cover 58 turned to the right so as to close the valve the relative position of the disks 9 and the ring 50 will remain unchanged. 0n

the other hand, if the cover is turned to the left, the position of disk 56 will be changed relatively to disk 53 and ring 50. but the relative positions of the disk 53 and ring-50 Wlll remain the same due to the fact that the cover can be rotated to the left independently of disk 53. By rotating the cover so as to bring the inner one of the perforations between numbers 12' and 1 under the point of indicator 64 the disk 52 and cover 58 will be returned to their initial relative positions so that, by inserting the key through perforation 62 it will pass through the alined apertures of the disks and cover. With the key in this position the inner end thereof will rest against the outer face of ring 50 near the periphery of the same. By pressing lightly on the key and turning cover 58 to the left the key will be broughtv into register with the aperture 50 of the ring andmay then be inserted into the same so as to positively lock the cover and the disks and ring together as before. With these members locked together in this man ner, by rotating the cover 58 to the left the are screw 22 will be operated so as to force the inner sleeve 21 outward in sleeve 17 thus slacking cable 27 and permitting the valve 7 to be moved downward out of its seat by the coil spring 11 thus establishing communication between the fuel supply pipe and the carburetor feed pipe so as to permit operation of the engine. .The disk 53 actsas a guard or shield for the ring 50 so as to effectually prevent any one from inserting a sharp pointed instrument through one of the perforations of the cover and forcing the same into biting engagement with the ring 50 thus locking the cover and ring together. With the construction shown and described it is practically impossible for v any one not knowing the combination or controlling number of the lock to release the fuel supply control valve 7. Of course, it will be obvious that the indicator 64 need not necessarily point to the particular perforation through which the key should be inserted. For instance, the locking mechanism may be so arranged that with the indicator on the center hole between the numbers 4 and 5 the key could be inserted through the perforation 62, or any other desired combination could be employed.

By my construction I provide positively acting means for operating the valve 7 which is slidably mounted, and I avoid subjecting the cable to torque such as would tend to distort it. In addition, by operating the valve by direct tension insure accuracy and positiveness of operation. This feature is deemed an improvement over valve operating mechanisms in which a threaded rotatable valve is employed and is rotated by a cable spring-the amountof rotation of the valve being dependent to a large extent upon the resiliency of the operating medium.

In'l ig. 6 of the drawings I have shown a modified form of my invention for control ling the steering gear of an automobile instead of the fuel supply. In this" form a I vents movement oi s to the outer end of the SE5 tube has one en? secured i short sleeve 29 carried by one jaw 38 I 'emiellipticel shape of a locking 1 ember sonpted to be mounted about the standard 31 insicle of the engine hood, 2*: similar 32 is pivoted to the jaw '30 as at Esoh U jaw is provided, on its end, with in- 1o reeene e s means the frame composed oi the tho .vS 30 and 82 may he secured on the ng; steuou a This frame is to ease he}; no steel so that it eennot he i. encl thus removes; from th onclaicl, 'i he bore 39 the inner portion of god as at 40. This enlergen ovlinclrieal chamber in ly mounted at ietch 41. This ate}: ioledl with an integrai outW, ch

cec. stem i-e W} m. 10 sllci 39. The enter the stem oi. izz' tion on eheniben View 3. I, J.

ilus spi'lng acts to n in its lnnenmost 1s provides; W latch i, video! with sinn A :ie ieteh iho standard 31. e which receives is prohen the tne front iineetecl straight sheen? 4 e sieving rocl Wili he in i the standard. are Y in this position the gage through the some so look the gnicle Tod rots J pie it is impossible to opeinto The other encl of cable 48 he Joie sleeve 21 in the SZJHB manner as cable 9:? is, and the other end of tube 28 is to be secured to the outer end of the outer sleeve 1* in the same man- 1 nor as tube is secured By operat ng the sleeve 21 in the manner 13"GV1011Slj" clesczubecl in connection with the fuel control valve 7'- tension mey he exerteel on the cable 43 so as to pulley the iatch l-l outward thus releasing the steering real i5 and permitting operation of the automobile. This form is H1 of my 11 he Well fuel sup en euto- 1th the some for use with sites by unauthorized persons.

In using toe above close ijoe loos steering stenoetxi the teeth o ring of the ioeliing mechanism versed relatively to the positions t hey ooonp y' in mechanism desoriheci in connection with the fuel supply control valve. this means, the sleeve to which the oslole 43 is eov nested be fyeely sieokenecl so its son-ti u the latch 41 to be moved into opener tive position, but this sleeve (rennet 'oe movecl outward so as tension. the encl thus the steering excepting by persons eequeintecl with the combination or controlling bar of the ionizing mechanism.

There may be slight changes made in the construction ans arrangement of the various 1:" of my invention without departing from the field and scope the same, and L intendv to inelucle eli such oh gee, es'fell Within the scope oi? a; oi claims, in this application in which v invention is oiisolosed,

claim is: i. In eutoinobiie looking means, the coinbinetion of a fuel supply pipe, pipe, a valve easing communicating With seiol pipes, a, sliclahle valve mountel in the easing, means for normally holding the valve in. open position, on outen sleeve, en armored tube having one enci seonnecl one end. of the said outer sleeve enol the othei end seounecl to one eni the vn-lve easing, an inner s eeve sh .soiy mounted in the seiol outer sleeve and? secured against notation therein, a, cable one encl secured the h vs en-tl the encl seoujteoi to the innes sleeve, e serew threaciecl into the nine? sleeve, and means rotating the seitl o cored. one end of the valve easing, an inner sleeve smlahiy mounted in the said rotation ourecl to outer sleeve seeureci theiceln, oelole netting" one end the valve and the other sleeve, mesns for rotsoin g direction so to cause mov inner sleeve in e (line/e on eehle, and '"oens p rotation of the tension the preventing direction.

ion

3. In automobile locking means, the comhination of a valve casing, a valve slidaoly mounted therein, a spring mounted about the valve and adapted to normally maintain it in depressed "position, an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve slidably mounted in the outer slee e' and secured against rotation therein, a screw threaded into the said inner sleeve, said screw provided with a polygonalhead, a ring mounted about the head of the screw, means for rotating the ring in one direction, means for normally preventing rotation of the ring in the other direc-- tion, and a cable having one end secured to the said inner sleeve and the other end secured to the valve.

In testimony whereof. I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAF M. ANDERSON. Witnesses SUSAN PENDLETON, DORA BRIDGE. 

